From Big Ideas to Real Impact: Introducing Alberta Counsel’s Economic Development Services

It usually starts with a well-intentioned plan.

A visioning session. A consultant report. A council resolution. A sense that this time, economic development will finally move the needle.

And then reality sets in.

Staff are stretched thin. Priorities compete. Elections happen. Momentum fades. The plan ends up on a shelf—again.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Across Alberta, communities of all sizes are wrestling with the same challenge: how to turn good economic development intentions into real, sustained progress. That’s exactly the problem Alberta Counsel set out to solve with the launch of its new Economic Development Services Program.

Built for the Way Communities Actually Work

Economic development doesn’t fail because communities lack ideas. It fails when strategy, policy, capacity, and execution aren’t aligned. Alberta Counsel’s program is built around that reality—supporting economic development officers, CAOs, mayors, and councils with services that are practical, disciplined, and designed to work in the real world.

Starting With Strategy—But Not Stopping There

Every strong economic development effort starts with clear direction. Alberta Counsel works with communities to develop focused, realistic strategies that make hard choices, set priorities, and align with local capacity. Just as importantly, we review policies—zoning, fees, approvals, and timelines—to ensure they support investment rather than quietly slowing it down.

Stronger Together: Regional Economic Development in Alberta

For many of Alberta’s communities—particularly smaller and rural ones—economic development works best when it’s approached regionally. Alberta Counsel provides regional economic development services and strategic partnership development to help municipalities move beyond competition and toward collaboration, creating the scale, capacity, and credibility needed to attract investment, support business growth, advance tourism and hospitality, and pursue funding opportunities. From regional strategies to coordinated implementation support, our role is to help regions align priorities, clarify governance, and move forward together—so that when one community succeeds, the benefits are felt across the entire region.

Strengthening What You Already Have

Often, the biggest opportunities aren’t new—they’re local. Through Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) services, Alberta Counsel helps communities build structured programs that uncover expansion potential, surface business challenges early, and turn conversations into action.

When it comes to attraction, we help communities move past slogans and toward investment readiness. That means understanding what site selectors and investors look for, and ensuring land, infrastructure, and internal coordination are in place before opportunity arrives.

Thinking Bigger—When It Makes Sense

For communities considering Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Alberta Counsel helps answer the most important question first: Is this realistic for us? From there, we support market targeting, regional coordination, and the systems needed to welcome and retain international investors.

We also help communities rethink tourism and hospitality—not as one-off events, but as a strategic part of the local economy. The focus is on building visitor economies that support local businesses, address workforce challenges, and create lasting value.

Because Capacity Is the Real Constraint

Many economic development teams are small. Some are one person wearing many hats. Alberta Counsel’s capacity-building services provide practical tools, frameworks, and training that help teams work smarter—without burning out.

And because plans don’t implement themselves, Alberta Counsel offers hands-on implementation support. We help turn council direction into action, maintain momentum through change, and keep initiatives moving when capacity or complexity becomes a barrier.

A Partner Focused on Progress

Alberta Counsel’s Economic Development Services Program is built on a simple belief: economic development should be clear, focused, and doable. Our role is to bring structure, alignment, and follow-through—so communities can move from planning to progress with confidence.

Ready to Make Economic Development Work?

If your community is ready to move beyond good intentions and start seeing real results, Alberta Counsel is ready to help.

Learn more about our Economic Development Services Program or book a confidential introductory conversation by contacting Zack Ziolkowski at z.ziolkowski@albertacounsel.com.

Because economic development isn’t about having more plans. It’s about making the right one’s work.